Kukla's Korner Hockey

NEW YORK (October 22, 2010) – Vancouver Canucks forward Rick Rypien has been suspended six games, without pay, for making physical contact with a spectator during NHL Game #76 at Xcel Energy Center Tuesday night.

The Canucks also were fined $25,000, as required by League policy.

Including the game already served while Friday’s hearing was pending, Rypien will be eligible to return to play Nov. 6 against Detroit.

“Prior to each season, all clubs and players are advised that under no circumstances are club personnel permitted to have physical contact with fans, or enter, or attempt to enter the stands,” Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “We hold NHL players to a high standard, and there simply is no excuse for conduct of this nature. Fortunately, this incident is not typical of the way NHL players conduct themselves and is not typical of the way Mr. Rypien had conducted himself during his career.”

The incident occurred at 13:38 of the second period as Rypien was leaving the ice following an altercation with Minnesota’s Brad Staubitz.

The last time a player was suspended for more than four games for making physical contact with a spectator was March 20, 1982, when defenseman Doug Halward of the Canucks was suspended seven games for an altercation with fans.

added 12:45pm,

Vancouver, B.C. - Vancouver Canucks President and General Manager Mike Gillis released the following statement today regarding the National Hockey League suspension of forward Rick Rypien:

“We understand and respect the League’s decision today regarding Rick Rypien. While this game is played with passion and intensity, the safety of all of our fans and players is of the utmost importance at all times. Throughout his career Rick has been well respected by his teammates, coaches, fellow players and our community. Rick is a valued member of our organization and we will continue to support him and all of his teammates to ensure incidents like this do not happen in the future.”

Comments

It figures. The league had a chance to draw a line in the sand and take a stand and it flubbed it up. Good thing that Rypien only grabbed the fan and not gestered towards him or called him a name or two or else he would have been in some serious trouble.

The NHL has without question the most f*cked up sense of justice and punishment of any major sports league in the world by a factor of about 1,000. I half expect Bettman to emerge from his hole and some point and say “Haha! Just f*ckin’ with ya!”